Giant lies in pieces, empire under lock. The fate of the highest Jesus in the world hangs in the balance in Yerevan

Recent developments in Armenia indicate a significant halt in the construction of a monumental statue of Jesus Christ, initially intended to boost tourism. The project, spearheaded by businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, has faced severe setbacks following his arrest on corruption charges. With the main company responsible for the statue's base now shut down, work has come to a standstill. The completed statue remains in parts, awaiting transport, which is complicated by the current legal situation surrounding Tsarukyan. The Armenian Apostolic Church and environmentalists have also opposed the project, citing cultural and ecological concerns. The completion date has been pushed to 2027, but doubts persist about its feasibility given the ongoing legal issues.